On November 19, 1997, Bobbi McCaughey and her husband, Kenny, made headlines when she safely delivered the world's first surviving set of septuplets in Des Moines, Iowa. The arrival of Kenny Jr., Alexis, Natalie, Kelsey, Nathan, Brandon, and Joel — born at 2.5 pounds to 3.4 pounds — was heralded as a medical miracle.

Now, the McCaughey septuplets are turning 18 and preparing to head out on their own for the first time. The seven seniors at Carlisle High School are all busy making plans for life after graduation. Brandon has enlisted in the Army, starting June 1, while the other six have college plans. (They also have an older sister, 19-year-old Mikayla, who got married last summer and lives nearby.)

"It will be pretty drastic," their mom, Bobbi, told the Des Moines Register. "Everyone gone all at once."

The McCaughey septuplets at 3-months-old on March 2, 1998.

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Bobbi and Kenny had pursued in vitro fertilization after the birth of their daughter Mikayla. But when they learned that she was carrying seven embryos, the religious couple chose to keep them all — which thrust them into a controversial spotlight.

But after the babies' safe delivery, it's been a relatively normal road to adulthood, except for the media requests the family fields each year around the kids' birthday. Or the fact that they live in a seven-bedroom house that was donated when the kids were born. Or the free vacations and food and college tuition they've been given. Or the time they met President George W. Bush.

"My fear has always been that they see our jobs and think that's all they need for nice stuff," Kenny, who works at a metal-coating company, told the newspaper. "I've given them the cold, hard truth slowly. No way could I afford this home on my salary. If you want something, you have to work for it."

Bobbi is employed as a para-educator for special-needs children — in addition to the work of raising eight children. Both she and Kenny have tried to instill that work ethic into their kids.

'It is surreal,' Bobbi said of looking back at her kids (pictured on August 21, 1998). 'Sometimes those memories seem like so long ago. In other ways, it seems like yesterday.'

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The children have all held jobs (they have to buy their own cell phones!) and saved money for college. But they won't necessarily need it: at birth, several universities offered them free college education. At least three of the kids — Natalie, Nathan, and Joel — plan to attend Hannibal-LaGrange University in Missouri, one of the schools to offer tuition. Natalie intends to study elementary education, while Joel and Nathan will both pursue computer science.

Nathan and Alexis were born with cerebral palsy and each underwent childhood surgeries to help them walk. Nathan battled day after day to finally learn to walk on his own. Alexis still uses a walker, but this year, she was the school cheerleading squad's co-captain.

"Me and Lexi are completely done with surgeries and checkups and unless we need something, we're completely done with it," Nathan told local news station KCCI, adding with a laugh. "I just feel like I'm the king of the school like I'm a senior now. I can rule over anybody."

Alexis intends to pursue preschool education at Des Moines Area Community College, where Kenny Jr. will be pursuing construction studies. Kelsey is in all state choir and wants to pursue a career in music, though she's not sure which school she will attend.

"We consider us as best friends, not as brothers and sisters," Alexis told WICC. "And I'm really blessed that we've gotten to that point."

For Bobbi and Kenny, facing an empty nest feels surreal after years packed with the activities and the joy of eight children at home. "Everything is the last," Bobbi told the Des Moines Register. "The last marching band performance. The last cross country meet. The last choir concert. It's sad to see things end, but there will be a lot of firsts coming. You have to get to the lasts to get to the firsts.

"You always think, 'What could I have done differently?' But I think they are all ready for the next step. They all turned out pretty well."

Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey with (clockwise from the back left) Joel, Natalie, Kelsey, Kenny Jr., Brandon, Alexis, and Nathan at home in Iowa.

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